Travel Meeting - February 16, 2006

On Thursday night, Mick and I went to our first travel meeting at Sunny Ridge Family Center - ( our adoption agency). Our Agency is somewhat unique in that they provide a great deal of travel education prior to the trip and we all travel as a group with a Social Worker from the Agency. We were both very excited to meet the 11 other families that will be traveling with us to China. Bethanne (social worker) covered topics of planning for our trip, travel arrangements, money and exchanges, what to bring and not to bring, cultural expectations and some health issues. We will have another travel meeting after we recieve our referral.

Some notes of interest:

1. When in China - Do not wear yellow - signifies Falun Gong - a controversial Spiritual Movement in China.
2. When in China - Do not wear white - signifies funerals
3. When in China - Do not drink the water, do not drink the water, do not drink the water - b/c of hepatitis B in the tap water (don't open mouth in shower!)
4. Bring lots of hand sanitizer
5. Recent cases of measles ( watch for signs before leave China)
6. Need 6 gifts : not white/yellow or gold, not time related/clocks/watches remind the Chinese of death
7. Be cautious of what you take pictures of...
8. Do not give to beggars - even children. Remember you are there for 1 purpose.
9. Negotiate in markets - don't pay full price or you are considered a loser.
10. Bring pediatrician's and internist's phone #
11. Make a book of pictures of our home/family for our little one to play with
12. Look into travel evacuation insurance
13. Get $8,000 in brand new, crisp bills - no marks etc ( $200 in $1,$5 and $10 / the balance should be in $100 ) - this does not include spending money.
14. $3,000 to Welfare Institute, $1,600 for group meals and sightseeing, $365 CCAA Application Fee, $200 CCAA Document Translation Fee, $1,100 on-site legal fees, $325 Child's Visa Fee
15. 3 times to dress up - business-like - must wear nylons (ugh) tie for men ( double ugh)
16. Absolutely do not talk religion or politics